Amazing Grace Adoptions Benefit Concert

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“Lovoso stands for Love Orphans, Visit Orphans, Serve Orphans. It is our humble desire to love orphans with our actions and deeds, visit each orphanage annually, and serve the orphans through our time and resources. We are a for-profit business that gives 50% of our net profits to social needs around the world. This includes orphanages, micro-finance projects, widow and single mother ministries and anywhere else there is a need. We do not throw money at the problem, but rather partner with frontline organizations that are fixing the problem. We also donate our time by visiting each orphanage and loving the children in a real and personal way.

“Chunky Junk is a subsidiary of Lovoso, which specializes in hand-made jewelry from Dehli, India. We partner with a group of ladies there, buying their beautiful jewelry and selling them here in the United States. All of our jewelry is bought using fair trade business practices. ”

http://www.lovoso.org/

Is that truly the case?  Are some people cut out to adopt, or even adopt a little boy or girl who doesn’t quite look like themselves?  Scripture has a bit to say about this kind of idea, based on how God has blessed people with different skills (see Romans 12:3-8) to do different things.  So, I would say that indeed some people are more equipped or more led by God’s spirit to adopt.

But, here’s something I want everyone to be reminded of.  When doing God’s work, everyone is supposed to be at work.  In the Romans passage referenced above, everyone was gifted with different skills, but it doesn’t say “be gifted and then do whatever you want.”  It says that each gift is given for a purpose – that you would use it.  So, when you consider the importance of adoption, which we know because scripture says that true religion is taking care of widows and orphans (see James 1:27), also consider how you can play a part.

And, what kind of part would be right for you, helping in the creation a culture of adoption?  Here’s some ideas that you can consider, after careful prayer about how God has gifted you to do His will.  I’m basing this on the idea of working together as one body with one goal – encouraging a culture of adoption.

• Be the hands:  Yes, work, work, work.  But hands are also creative and can come up with interesting ways to encourage adoption.  You can help a friend raise money with a yard sale.  You could create some pamphlets for your local adoption agency.  You could even use those hands to surf the internet and learn more about the opportunities for adoption.
• Be the feet:  Some friends have gone to other countries to adopt children.  But your feet could simply lead you to your local adoption agency’s office to volunteer.  They could lead you to a family who has recently adopted to offer your help, including offering to give the new parents a break to catch a few hours of much-needed sleep.
• Be the mind:  God has gifted some with incredible minds that can come up with ingenious ways to promote adoption, ingenious ways to create financial support for adoption, or perhaps they have been blessed with stories and insight on how God truly does want us all to be part of his desire that we take care of orphans.
• Be the wallet:  OK.  Yes, everyone harps on money, and especially these days it’s a sore subject for lots of people – people who have lost good paying jobs, who are now unemployed or maybe underemployed.  But some have weathered the economic storm surprisingly well.  These people can support their own adoption process, the efforts of other families, and even adoption agencies.  Money is meant to be used for great things.
• Be the heart:  Be willing to fall in love with a little one who needs a home.  Be willing to put aside your own fears about adoption (made famous by whatever the latest movie or book has said).  Be willing to care enough about children to work to find them homes – where they can be loved and grow into loving relationships with our great God!

There are many more ways to be at work for adoption.  If you have more ideas – leave a comment!

So let me declare right now, that I am thankful to God – the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, Yahweh, Jehovah, the Christ Jesus who is the Son of God and is God himself.

Why make such a public and loud statement? Paul says it well in Romans 1:16:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

I am very thankful for this good news – this gospel! And because of this hope, there are other things that I give thanks for today as well:

• My wonderful wife, Emily, who supports me with such unconditional love, it amazes me daily.
• My darling little girls, who clearly are little Rotens through and through!
• Family and friends that stand by you, encourage you and challenge you in so many ways.
• God’s provision through a job and manageable expenses.
• A city to live in that offers such variety, excursions and a healthy environment to raise our little girls.
• Technology – not only because it is fun (ipods, netflix on wii, imacs, android phones, and so much more), but because it allows us to communicate with people all around the world, sharing our lives with others.
• A passion for adoption – and a desire to share that passion with as many as will listen so that no little boy or girl will have to live life without the blessing of a caring and nurturing set of parents.
• And much more (things that you’re probably horrified that I forgot to list!)

Ephesians 5:20 – “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Why?  Well, it was partly because of the content.  A problem had arisen at work, and everyone thought I was dealing with it when I was actually not even aware of it.  But also partly because I worry too much about what other people think of me, so it bothered me that this reflected badly on me.

The mental tailspin, however, is really a different issue.  I often feel overwhelmed in life, and I counsel others who feel the same way.  But, when you get into that tailspin, it’s really hard to get yourself out.  This morning, as I was still struggling with it hours later driving to work, I knew I had to deal with it before getting in to the office.  So, I started praying and asking myself, “What advice would you give others?”

In a very GodSpotters manner (seeing God’s hand at work in our lives), the Mandisa song, “My Deliverer” came on the radio.  I cranked it up as I thought through how the answer to our overwhelmed moments is to remember our “deliverer.”

God, through his Son, provides so much for us.  I’ve seen firsthand how he delivers from the promise of eternal separation from God.  I’ve seen how he delivers from bad circumstances and situations.

Today was my day to remember that God delivers us from our current life issues – but sometimes not to a new situation, but to a new perspective.  God is my deliverer in times of struggle.  He knew what he was doing when he brought me to this new job.  He had a plan in mind for how he would use this job to grow me more into the image of Christ.  But, maybe more importantly, how he would use this job to glorify His name – meaning it’s not all about me, and perhaps it was more important for me to be here to be used for His kingdom in the lives of the others here at the office.

So, when you are overwhelmed, consider the song “My Deliverer.”  Consider how God truly does deliver us, no matter our need, when we trust him, lay our burdens before him, and simply worship him!

When you get time, read 2 Samuel 22 (here’s a portion):

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior…”

Here is my encouragement for anyone who is reading this, ask yourself, “Where am I?”  What season has God brought to you in your life right now, and RELISH in it, some may be easier or harder to relish in but seek HIM where you are and drink up every moment of where you are even if it’s between a rock and a hard place!  I’m not saying you will go around with a goofy grin on your face if you have faced job loss, a difficult health diagnosis or the passing of a loved one but soak up Christ in the midst of it.

Now I am preaching this to myself, just so you know.  Staying home with a 2 children under the age of 3 is sometimes like herding cats (just tried to take a “stroll” with them around our neighborhood – yeah that was fun!).  So I often find myself forgetting to BREATHE and adjust to focus and remember where I am.  I am in the middle of God’s plan for my life!  Wherever you are search for Christ and cling to Him!